In this series we’ll take a fresh look at resources and how they are used. We’ll go beyond natural resources like air and water to look at how efficiency in raw materials can boost the bottom line and help the environment. We’ll also examine the circular economy and design for reuse — with an eye toward honoring those resources we do have.

While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they can sure help. Through this series, we’ll explore how initiatives like curbside compost pick-up, rebates on compost bins, and efficient appliances can help families reduce their impact without breaking the bank.

Despite decades -- centuries even -- of global efforts, slavery can still be found not just on the high seas, but around the world and throughout various supply chains. Through this series on forced labor, sponsored by C&A Foundation, we’ll explore many different types of bonded and forced labor and highlight industries where this practice is alive and well today.

In this series we examine how companies should respond to national controversy like police violence and the BLM movement to best support employees and how can companies work to improve equality by increasing diversity in their ranks directly.

Compost is often considered a panacea for the United States’ tremendous food waste problem. Indeed, composting is a much better option than putting spoiled food in a garbage can destined for a landfill.

Policy & Government

President-elect Donald Trump’s deal to stop the Indiana air-conditioning manufacturer from moving a plant to Mexico has been one of the most discussed of his pre-presidency moves. Mr. Trump contends he has saved more than 1,000 U.S. jobs. However, experts — including Greg Hayes, the CEO of United Technologies (UTC), Carrier’s parent firm — indicate the decision will ultimately result in fewer jobs.

In a report issued this week, the Stockholm Environment Institute said offshore oil drilling in Arctic and Atlantic waters is not needed, asserting the U.S. has “more than enough domestic oil from other sources” to meet all domestic oil production needs while limiting climate change.

Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has an arrest record that may appear on a routine employment background check, affecting their chances of being hired. Proponents say ‘ban-the-box’ policies, which delay background checks in the hiring process, can help. But some researchers link the policies to racial discrimination in hiring. Is ban the box to blame, or is it just another case of systemic racism?

In one interpretation of the scenario, Trump’s plan would reward foreign-owned companies over domestic ones. Imagine the uproar from CEOs of American firms, who would quickly point out that the supposedly ‘free’ market is now instead skewed in favor of foreign firms. Such tampering of the market is about as far away from conservative ideals as you could possibly imagine from a Republican president, and it would help neither American companies nor American consumers.

Consumers in Europe already bombarded with labels such as “organic” and “fair trade” may soon start seeing another label on products – and a politically loaded one at that. France recently announced that it will require goods made in Israeli settlements to have a clear label on their packaging.

Amnesty International describes the global palm oil industry as a “disgrace.” Lands continue to be cleared for plantations, where workers — some of them children — are pushed to the brink and paid grossly unfair wages, the group insists.

Many citizens do not want to be told there are mostly winners and a few losers in globalization, and that a rapidly changing economy means they’ll have to change industries and careers several times during our working lives.

The COP21 climate talks in Paris taught us we have the political will to come together as a global community to act on climate change. COP22 carried those initiatives forward with dry but arguably more important implementation guidelines. Here’s a summary.